Celebrate Earth Day Weekend and the reopening of the Japanese Garden
Honoring the spirit of Earth Day is part of our mission every day at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, where our annual Party for the Planet, powered by Xcel Energy is a two-day weekend celebration on April 25 and 26. Bring the family for a fun, hands-on weekend dedicated to pollinators, plants, and the power of community action.
Earth Day turns 56 years old on April 22, 2026, and Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is celebrating with a weekend full of nature, learning, and family fun.
What to Expect
🌼 Interactive Activities (10 AM – 4 PM)
Drop in throughout the day to enjoy:
- Pollinator Pebbles (Rock Painting) – Create your own nature-inspired rock to take home or share in the community
- Monarch Joint Venture Station – Learn about monarch butterflies, make a bracelet, and explore their migration journey
- Green Yard Tool Demo – Learn about cutting-edge solutions for environmentally-friendly yard care from our friends at TORO & Frattallone’s Hardware.
- Hose Repair Demo & Kit Giveaway – Fix, don’t toss, your garden hose
- Community Food & Supply Drive – Support local families in need. Our friends at Neighborhood House has a list of most needed items. Click HERE.
- Our friends at Xcel Energy will be on hand to share energy conservation tips. Stop by and get a free LED night-light!
🎨 Pollinator Pebbles
Como is partnering with MN Kindness Alliance and the Anoka Kindness Rock Garden for a fun, creative rock painting experience. Paint a rock—or three—with butterflies, bees, and pollinator-inspired designs.
Rocks will dry while you explore and can be picked up before leaving the Visitor Center. Each one includes a QR code to learn more about monarch butterflies and conservation efforts.
Even better, Como Friends will donate a plant for every Pollinator Pebble painted, helping us provide up to 1,000 plants for local pollinators.
🌱 Special Experiences
MN Seed Project Pop-Up
🕐 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (both days)
The MN Seed Project will invite participants to learn about cleaning and preparing seeds for packaging and sharing, including hands-on demonstrations of techniques for processing seeds from various pollinator plant species. Participants will also get to a chance to bring home a packet of meticulously collected seeds for their own pollinator garden.
🐝 Talks & Presentations
Keeper Talk (Unexpected Pollinators!)
Gardener Talk (Pollinator Plants)
Times and locations announced onsite.
🎤 Community Lunch & Learn (Adult Audience)
Sunday, April 26 | 12:00 PM | Visitor Center Auditorium
A Kaleidoscope of Connections: Conservation for Monarch Butterflies
Presented by Katie-Lyn Puffer, Monarch Joint Venture
Take a deeper dive into the fascinating world of monarch butterflies, their life cycle, population challenges, and how you can help support pollinators at home.
Note: This presentation is designed for an adult audience.
Don’t Miss These Bonus Experiences
🌸 Catch the Final Weekend of the Spring Flower Show
As if Party for the Planet were not reason enough to visit, April 25 and 26 are also the final days of the Spring Flower Show Part I in the Sunken Garden.
Important Note:
The Sunken Garden will be closed April 27 through April 30 as our horticulture team prepares for Spring Flower Show Part II.
🌿 The Japanese Garden Reopens for the Season
Party for the Planet weekend also marks the seasonal reopening of the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden.
After a long Minnesota winter, it is the perfect time to step outside, reconnect with nature, and experience one of Como’s most peaceful spaces as it welcomes visitors once again.
🧡 Community Food & Supply Drive
Help support our neighbors by donating essential items at the Visitor Center entrance. Donations will benefit Neighborhood House in Saint Paul.
Most-needed items include:
- Pantry staples (rice, beans, peanut butter, coffee, tea)
- Household supplies (toilet paper, soap, cleaning items)
- Personal care items (toothpaste, deodorant, menstrual products)
Plan Your Visit
Party for the Planet activities are included with your visit to Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.
Most activities are family-friendly, though some experiences—like the Lunch & Learn—are geared toward adults. Children should be supervised at all times.
